SPORT Cowboys look likely to secure their man Thurston until 2013 By MATT MARSHALL record three-year deal. showdown with the Broncos at move is increasingly unlikely. code switch to the 15-man code. THE Cowboys have all but snared The Northern Territory News has Suncorp Stadium. Thurston holds deep ties to the Earlier this week, a move to Super their man with Test No. 7 learnt Thurston is highly unlikely While Thurston is poised to pledge Cowboys and its community. His rugby was quashed by the Austral- set to sign a to play for a rival NRL club after his long-term future to , a girlfriend Samantha Lynch is the ian Rugby Union, who baulked at new $2 million-plus contract that careful consideration of heavy ad- deal with fellow off-contract star club’s sponsorship manager and the Thurston’s asking price. Rival NRL will keep him in North vances from former club the Bull- Luke O’Donnell is less likely for the pair are happily settled in Towns- clubs the Dogs and Eels have pub- until at least the end of 2013. dogs, and also the Warriors, Eels Cowboys, with the NSW Origin lock ville, as are the champion licly played down their pitches. It is believed only Karmichael and Sharks. likely to return to . playmaker’s parents. The Dogs’ bid dates back consider- Hunt’s French rugby union club The 26-year-old superstar is now Thurston is yet to formally lock He has been stung by slings that ably while the Warriors, who will Biarritz Olympique now stands be- expected to officially commit his the door on France’s Top 14 with have labelled him greedy and dis- have plenty of free funds under the tween the dual Dally M Medal future to the Cowboys as early as Biarritz having tabled a whopping loyal during a very public round of salary cap after Maroons veteran winner re-committing to the NRL next week with an announcement deal, believed to be worth double the contract negotiations, in which he Steve Price’s departure at season’s and on a club- expected before the Round 1 derby Cowboys’ offer, but a European has sounded out his options of a end, have also made a lunge. Forwards in fight

to keep K

positions COLOR: 83 By GREGOR harder to MACTAGGART play hot HE’S played 15 Origins and and play keen in at- Test football for , tack like but Carl Webb (pictured) we know PAGE: knows reputations are go- we can.’’ ing to count for nothing at The Johnathan the North Queensland Cow- Dalby pro- Thurston boys in 2010. duct The 28-year-old enforcer is labelled tonight’s trial as the talisman of a Cowboys critical for the Cowboys pack oozing with so much ahead of the club’s Round 1 quality that two former blockbuster against the

Kangaroos in Broncos at Suncorp Stadium 27-FEB-2010 and Antonio Kaufusi are on on March 12. the bench for tonight’s trial ‘‘The local derby is a great against Gold Coast at Rich- start to the year for us — the ardson Park. Broncos at will let ‘‘We’re all playing for pos-

us know where we’re at DATE: itions, there’s a lot of compe- early,’’ he said. tition for spots in the forward ‘‘Last year we didn’t play pack this year,’’ Webb said. well in the trials and started ‘‘A bit’s been made about slowly, so it’s important we Willie joining the club, but do well against the Titans to there are also young guys prepare for Round 1.’’ such as Steve Rapira and Jimmy Tamou putting As for where he’s at after a busy pre-season that featured their hands up to play come NT NEWS Round 1.’’ a debut professional boxing Webb, who will start along- bout and appearance for side Maroons teammate Matt the Indigenous All-Stars, Webb responded. Scott in the front-row tonight, PUB: knows he has to play a leader- ‘‘I reckon it takes about ship role as the Cowboys bid four to six weeks to get match for an NRL finals spot in 2010. fitness and conditioning right ‘‘There is that responsibil- and I know as a front-rower ity to play well — my role is to the more game time you get make the yards and give the under your belt the better,’’ smaller guys like Johnno he said. (Johnathan Thurston) and ‘‘I’m hoping to get about 40 our playmakers the opportun- minutes plus, but there will ities to play footy like they probably be a bit of chopping can,’’ he said. and changing again this week ‘‘If we’re not down the park to share the workload be- when they do then it is much tween all the forwards.’’ Titans duo a worry for North Queensland NT challenges Townsville From Back Page like a bad show this pre- boom off-season recruit THE Territory Titans junior Reece Dudgeon, Matt Bennett, Bradley season, with Henry at his teams open their national com- Hansen, Ben Tonkin, Jake Watts, Dean ‘‘He’s moved on from that Willie Mason? Nelson, Lewis Bilich, Trenton Smith (c), philosophical best when petition campaign at Richard- and we have too, we’ve talked Henry answered: ‘‘He’ll Dylan Cartwright. Interchange: Angus quizzed on the topic. son Park today. about a couple of things — come off the bench and is Jacobs, Dylan Peterson, Aydan Barr, Sam ‘‘It will be difficult to play pushing for a starting spot The Titans play traditional Foster. Coach: Jeremy Kurtz. he’s an experienced half and North Queensland heavy- attacking football as the against the Broncos in Round Under-16 (squad): Eli Burns, Anthony he’s in the box seat to partner weights Townsville in the weather limits what 1. We’re looking at him play- Castro, Aaron Chin, James Cox, Greg JT for the season.’’ both sides can do with the under-18 Cup and Cubillo, Peter Espie, Steven Fairweather, ing 40-50 minutes — the But the skills of the talented ball,’’ he said. under-16 Cyril Connell Cup. Jarrod Herbert, Daniel Jevdenijevic, Tom fact the weather might be a quartet could be blunted by ‘‘We would have liked to get McLellan, David Munroe, Daniel Norris, TJ bit cooler can counter the The under-16s are down to the constant rain which has a dry track and it does Norris, Harrison Owen Auburn, Kyle heavy track.’’ play from 4pm, with the under- O’Brien, Brodie Race, Jacob Rainger, lashed the Top End in recent change our plans a bit as it 18 match following at 5.30pm. Both sides are expected to James Redman, Chris Smith, Ashley Styles, days. For the Cowboys it is will be heavier under foot for Brad Taylor, Neil Vea Vea, Ado Waianga, not unique considering wet the big men.’’ go in as per the program. Under-18: Wayne Raymond, Kruise Jack Welch, Zane Worth. Coach: Brett weather has followed them So what does that mean for Kick-off is at 7.30pm. Willie Mason Nichols, Daniel Banks, Reuben Castro, Holmes. www.ntnews.com.au Northern Territory News, Saturday, February 27, 2010 — 83